Name: Jose Portillo (Bandit)

INSPIRATION TO MAKE MUSIC

From 1996 through 1997, Violet worked as a dance teacher at NYC’s Manhattan Village Academy, at which time she was also running KR3T’S. At that time, the school had no dance curriculum and she’d become the first person to implement a dance program at the school. One of the students who enlisted in the class, Jose Portillo AKA Bandit, who currently is the CEO of his own sound studio, “Fully Loaded Sounds,” which he started in 2002, recalls how Violet played a primary role in his decision to create music.

“I always liked to dance but never took a dance class,” Bandit says. “I remember when Violet first came to Manhattan Village Academy, nobody really knew her and everybody was trying to downplay what she came to do. But she had everybody fooled! Once the class started and people started seeing the choreography that she was teaching the class, one by one the line of people that came to see the class was like a mile long and everybody wanted to join the class. Students would even try to cut class just to watch Violet teach.”

The same love, guidance and support that Violet has always displayed to her students and non-students alike was definitely felt by those at The Manhattan Village Academy. “Most of our teachers at the school didn’t keep it real with us, but Violet always gave us the raw uncut,” Bandit explained. “Violet wasn’t just a teacher she was like a Mom to us. We were able to talk to her about anything and she taught us about real life. She gave me and other students the oppourtunity to be her assistants and she wanted for us to give back to the community by going on trips to perform, but she never got the OK from the principal.”

Like the many others who have been inspired by Violet, Bandit says, “I thank Vee (Violet), because she expanded my Horizons and showed me that I can do what ever I want in life. I figured that the same way she creates dance moves I could create sounds, which is why I started “Fully Loaded sounds.” If you’re Violet’s student for 3 months, a year or years, you’ll definitely learn something and that’s not just hype…it’s real!

Back to Success Stories Page